On arrival in Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel. Please note: Early check in is not included. If your flight arrives in the morning and you wish to arrange this, please speak to your reservations consultant. An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 1. If you miss this due to your arrival time, all information will be provided to you at breakfast the following morning. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.

This morning, visit the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels to learn the history of the Viet Cong and their guerrilla tactics during the Vietnam War. Sightseeing here involves two hours on foot on wide but uneven paths through the forest, seeing examples of reconstructed bamboo traps, Viet Cong kitchens, and tunnel entrances. Should you choose, you will have the opportunity to spend a few minutes underground, on a short, crouched walk through an example section of the tunnel network. The tunnels have been slightly enlarged for visitors’ safety. Stop for lunch at an organic farm en route back to Saigon. Explore the city’s heady mix of local culture and colonial influences. See the Notre-Dame Cathedral and visit the Central Post Office before spending time at the poignant War Remnants Museum. The latter is an emotional visit; you will be given time to explore independently.

Enjoy a leisurely morning taking in Saigon’s Chinatown district. See Cha Tam Church and the stunning Chua Ong Pagoda, an excellent example of Chinese-inspired architecture. Wander down a traditional herbal medicine street and learn about local beliefs in natural remedies. Continue to the Reunification Palace, formerly the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam, and tour its fascinating rooms. After lunch, your guide will escort you to the train station for the SE6 train to Binh Tuan, the station for the coastal resort area of Phan Thiet (15.30 – 19.24). On arrival, transfer to your beach hotel for dinner. Please note that luggage rules on the train restrict suitcases to maximum 20kg, with a maximum height of 80cm and maximum width of 50cm.

The morning is at leisure to relax or enjoy the beach. This afternoon, drive 4 hours into the Central Highlands to Dalat, watching as the scenery transitions from low-lying coastal plains to tea-covered hills and mountains. Arrive in charming Dalat, the capital of Lam Dong Province, sitting at 1500 metres above sea level on the Langbian Plateau.

Begin your explorations at the Art Deco-style ‘summer palace’ of King Bao Dai, the last king of Vietnam. Built in the 1930s, this was once a retreat for the royal family to escape the summer heat. Continue to Dalat train station, also built in the 1930s, and take the vintage open-air train to the village of Trai Mat, the site of King Bao Dai’s holiday and hunting camp. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the village before driving to Cau Dat Tea Hill, established in 1927 and still a hub of tea production. En route back to Dalat, stop by an embroidery workshop, and learn how this local craft has been kept alive for generations.

Visit Domain de Marie Church, built in 1943, followed by a relaxed walk through Dalat's lovely Flower Gardens. Enjoy a stroll through the grounds here, admiring its topiary and vibrant flower collections. After lunch, take an 80-minute flight to Danang in Central Vietnam. Transfer 45 minutes through the verdant countryside to the UNESCO-listed town of Hoi An. With its charming yellow buildings and vivid silk lanterns, a stroll through this traditional town feels like stepping back in time.

Head out on a walking tour of the Old Town, with visits including Chua Ong Chinese Pagoda, a 200-year-old merchant house, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Stop by a traditional house to hear about a local practice of healing through martial arts, created and taught by this family for generations. The method combines Qigong, Tai Chi, and a Vietnamese martial art called Vo. Practice some basic steps under the guidance of the master. Finally, stop by a small coffee shop before enjoying the rest of the afternoon free at leisure to explore Hoi An.

Head out into Hoi An’s peaceful countryside to visit an organic farming community. Here you can enjoy the lush green landscapes and stroll through the gardens to see the farmers at work. You’ll even have an opportunity to try the techniques for yourself! End your visit with a light-hearted, hands-on cooking demonstration, using ingredients from the garden to make your own lunch. Drive back to Danang and board the SE2 service to Hue (13:54-16:26). This 2.5-hour trip is considered one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world, with the vivid blue sea on one side and lush, forest-cloaked mountain on the other. The train slows down as it crosses the Hai Van Pass – a perfect opportunity for photographs! On arrival, check in to the hotel in Hue and take some time to refresh before dinner.

Discover Hue’s imperial history. Begin at the Imperial Citadel, home to the Forbidden Purple City – inspired by Beijing’s Forbidden City in China. Visit the tomb of the Emperor Tu Duc, one of Hue’s impressive royal mausoleums. This emperor’s life of luxury and carnal excess is evident in the tomb’s design. After lunch, visit a charming enamel workshop, and learn all about Pháp Lam enamelled bronze. This beautiful, vibrant art form reached its zenith during the mid-18th century, becoming a symbol of the city, but was almost lost until its more recent revival. Drive on to a local home, where you’ll learn how local artisans create Pháp Lam cakes, inspired by this beloved craft. Finally, enjoy a 45-minute cruise along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue's oldest and most beautiful pagoda. Return to your hotel.

After breakfast, fly 1 hour and 20 minutes to Hanoi, Vietnam’s charming capital city. Begin your day at the Ethnology Museum, with its mesmerising displays exploring the country’s 54 ethnic minority groups. In its grounds are a range of full-size replica longhouses demonstrating traditional ways of life in rural Vietnam. After lunch, take a cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Each cyclo (rickshaw) takes one passenger and is operated by a cycle driver behind the carriage. Wrap up your ride with an opportunity to taste some ‘egg coffee’ – a local speciality! Please note that as you have multiple days in Hanoi, your National Escort may change the order of touring based on local flights and schedules. No touring will be missed.

Discover the sights of Hanoi. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Quarter for an insight into the Vietnam War. Visit the Humble House on Stilts, where Ho Chi Minh lived in the grounds of the Presidential Palace, and see his Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square. After lunch, visit the serene Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first university.

Beginning from the presidential palace on Hung Vuong Street, stroll down Phan Dinh Phung Street, admiring the giant Sau trees and beautiful French colonial architecture. Stop by Cua Bac Church and Bac Mon Gate before a coffee break. Afterwards, stop to visit Hanoi’s last remaining handmade papier-mâché mask family. Meet the family who own the workshop and hear about their struggle to keep the tradition alive. Later, take some time to stroll in the Old Quarter, stopping by the centuries-old Kim Ngan Temple before lunch. This afternoon, board the SE5 service from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (15.30 – 17.51) – our third journey on the Reunification Express route.

Drive out of town to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties dating back a thousand years. After lunch, continue to nearby Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its outstanding natural beauty and scenic karst formations, nicknamed ‘Halong Bay on land’. Board a small boat and meander lazily down the peaceful river while passing through a series of caves and river paddies. Finally, return to the pier and transfer back to your hotel in Ninh Binh.

Drive 3.5 hours from Ninh Binh to Halong Bay, where you will take an overnight cruise to the far-most corners of this famously beautiful bay by boat. Enjoy lunch onboard as you cruise out into the bay, stopping to anchor for an afternoon of activities such as kayaking, swimming, or relaxing on an island beach. Sightseeing may include visiting underground caves on the islands, which require climbing up and down steps inside and outside of the caves. End the day on deck with a drink in hand to watch the sunset, followed by a freshly prepared dinner, before retiring to your cabin for the night. Please note: Weather conditions may delay the departure time of your cruise, or in some cases, your cruise may be cancelled. Notifications of any delays or cancellations may not be known until your group arrives in Halong Bay. If your cruise is cancelled after you arrive in Halong Bay, you will have lunch in Halong City and return to Hanoi. If notification of the cruise cancellation is given before you depart for Halong Bay, an alternative activity will be arranged.

Rise early to enjoy the sunrise over Halong Bay, and enjoy the changing seascapes as you set sail into deeper waters visited by fewer ships. Today, choose from activities such as kayaking on peaceful lakes within the bay. Alternatively, join a boat tour of a colourful floating village inhabited by multiple generations of fishermen and their families. Exact excursions will be determined on board based on current weather and sailing conditions.

After a night anchored out on the bay, rise early to enjoy a Tai Chi lesson on deck as the sun rises. Cruise back to port, stopping en route to visit one of the bay’s impressive caves. Disembark and head to Haiphong, a port city known for its leafy boulevards and French colonial-era architecture. Take a short walking tour of the city and admire its landmarks before boarding the 2.5-hour LP8 train service back to Hanoi ahead of this evening’s farewell dinner.

Any time before your flight is at leisure and breakfast will be included. You will be transferred from your hotel for approximately 1 hour to Noi Bai International Airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Late check-out is not included. Additional night's before and after your tour and extension packages can be arranged.